What Happens When Your Sprinkler Freezes

In Virginia, it is a given that your inground sprinkler system has to be winterized each Fall. Failure to do so will result in the exposed pipe to freeze and burst.

How This is Accomplished:

To winterize your sprinkler system, you must first cut off the water. Usually this will be a valve in the ground near your water meter or a valve in the crawl space/basement. Either way, the cut off has to be in an insulated/heated environment. Otherwise it would freeze at the valve. Don't make the mistake of cutting off the water outside at the backflow. This will not end well!

Once the water is cut off, you must connect an air hose from a compressor to just downstream of the valve you just shut off. Usually there is a fitting within a foot or so of the shut off valve. If this is not available, then you can hook to the backflow device that is usually located on the side of the house.

Your compressor should be set between 45 psi and 60 psi. Any less will not generate enough pressure to push out the water. Any higher pressure could damage your pipes.

Once the air hose is attached and the compressor running, simply manually run through each zone until water ceases to come out. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. 

Unhook the air hose and wait till mid April to turn the valve back on.

TIP: - Make sure to use pipe tape on any cap you had to put back on where the hose connected. Otherwise you will have a drip next year when you turn it back on.